Device for preventing accumulation of sand on railroad-tracks



Patented Apr. 25, I899. E. LUNDGREN.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING ACCUMULATION 0F SAND 0N RAILROAD TRACKS.

(Application filed Oct. 22, 1898.}

(N0 Model.)

m: mums PETERS 50.. PHOTO-LYING WASNINUTGN, n. c.

Nrrnn STATES Armvr rr'rcn.

EMIL LUNDGREN, OF NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING ACCUMULATION OF SAND ON RAILROAD-TRACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,797, dated April 25, 1899.

Application filed October 22. 1898 Serial No. 694.310. (No model.)

To (0% whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL LUNDGREN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at New Castle, in the county of Lawrence and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices to Prevent the Accumulation of Sand on Railroad Tracks, of which the following is a speci: fication, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in devices to prevent the accumulation of sand on railroad-tracks.

In many places, and more particularly in some of the far western States of this country, a part of many railwaylines extends across portions of the country the soil of which is extremely sandy and in many instances is composed of huge sand beds, and during high winds, such as are incident to countries having a level or rolling land, this sand is agitated and lifted by the winds, forming what are generally known as sand storms. As these fine particles of sand are carried through the air much in the same manner as fine flakes of snow they accumulate upon obstructions in what are usually termed sand drifts. By reason of the practical uselessness of such soil for cultivation purposes and by reason of the scarcity. of vegetation thereon the tracks of the railway-line passin across such country is oftentimes the only obstruction offered to this drifting sand, and the latter accum ulates thereon in such quantities as to frequently interfere considerably with the passage of trains, many times completely covering the tracks to such a height as to cause the suspension of traffic entirely until such time as the accumulationof sand has been removed. As these sand beds are often many miles in length it will be observed that naturally the expense to the railroad company for removing the sand from the tracks is enormous, besides a great inconvenience and annoyance being caused by the interruption to traffic, and to prevent this accumulation of sand upon the tracks and the consequent expense incident to removing the same, as well as to insure uninterruption of the traffic, is the primary object of my invention.

Briefly described, my invention consists ofan elongated strip of wood or other suitable material carrying a series of blades or shovels and means for operating the strip of wood or other material in opposite directions.

My invention finally consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of a railroadtrack with m y improved device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof on the line mm, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view thereof on the line 3 y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the supporters carrying the rollers for the elongated strip of material. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the friction-roller for the operating-cable. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the operating-wheel and support therefor.

Referring to the drawings by' referencenumerals, 1 indicates the ties of the railroadtrack, and 2 the rails secured thereto, my device being arranged on said ties. Secured upon one of the ties, as at 3, is a pair of supports 4, which are spaced apart and have revolubly mounted therein the rollers 5. These supports 4 may be secured upon a block 6, which is placed between the ties, and I arrange as many of these supports upon the railroad-track as is required. Operating on the rollers 5 is an elongated strip of suitable material 7, either wood or metal, upon which I mount the blade or shovel 8. These blades or shovels 8 are suitably secured to the strip 7 at an angle, and when soarranged the ends thereof almost abut against the inner face of the rail, or, in other words, these blades or shovels allow a sufficient space between the ends thereof and the inner face of the rails, so the same will not interfere with the wheels of a car-truck.

Along the side of the track is mounted my operating mechanism for the strip of material 7. This operating mechanism is arranged at suitable intervals and as many may be used as is required, and it consists of a support 9, having a shaft 10 mounted therein, and

upon this shaft 10 are mounted, on both sides of the support, the drive-wheels 11 and 11. I secure near the outer edge of the drivewheel 11 a pin 12, as at 13, and upon the drive-wheel 11 a pin 11, as at 15. Secured to the pin 12 is the operating cord or cable 16, the opposite end thereof being secured to the elongated strip of material 7, as at 17, and this cord or cable 16 operates around the pulley-wheel 1S and over the friction-roller 1!), which is mounted in the keeper 20, the latter being secured to the ties, as at 21. Secured to the pin 11 is the operating cord or cable 16, the opposite end thereof being secured to the elongated strip 7, as at 1'7, and which also operates around the pulley-wheel 1S and the friction-roller 19. The support 0 is suitably secured, as at 22, to a block 23, which is arranged between the ties. The shaft may be operated by any suitable means desired.

It will be readily observed that when the drive-wheels are oscillating the elongated strip 7 will slide in a backward-andfor\vard movement owing to the connection of the operating-cable therewith and the position of their connection to the drive-wheels. The sand will then be kept in agitation, which will prevent the settlement thereof.

This appliance or device may be arrange-.1 in series the entire length of the track, if so desired.

Owing tothe continuous operation of the shovels or blades during the drifting of the sand the latter is agitated in such a manner as to prevent it settling upon the track, and by reason of this agitation is carried onward by the force of the wind beyond the tracks, and the accumulation of sand, at least to such an extent as to hinder or interrupt the traffic of the road, is thereby obviated.

It will be noted that various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, the combinationwith a railway-track, of an elongated strip of material arranged centrally of said track, blades mounted on said track, supports arranged on said track, rollers journaled in said supports to receive said elonment is imparted to the latter when the drivewheels are operated, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a railroad-track, a strip arranged above the cross-ties of said track, blades mounted on said strip, rollers suitably supported from said track and upon which said strip operates, a drive-shaft, d rivewheels mounted on said shaft, independent cords or cables connecting said drive-wheels with the strip whereby an oscillating movement is imparted to said strip when the driveshaft is operated, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a railroad-track, of a strip of material arranged centrally of said track, blades mounted on said strip, a pulleywheel arranged in said track in close proximity to the strip, a drive-shaft arranged at the side of the track, drive-wheels mounted on said shaft, independent cordsorcableshaving one end connected to said drive-wheels and the other end connected to said strip whereby an oscillating movement is imparted to the strip with the operation of the driveshaft, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with a railroad-track, of a strip arranged above the cross-ties of said track, blades mounted on said strip, a pulleywheel arranged in the track in close proximity to the strip, a drive-shaft suitablysupported at one side of the track, drive-wheels mounted on said shaft, independent cables having one end connected to said drive-wheels and afterpassing around the sides ofsaid pulley-wheel in opposite directions having the other end connected to said strip whereby an oscillatory movement is imparted thereto when the drive-shaft is operated, substantially as described.

5. In combination, an elongated strip of material, blades mounted thereon at an angle thereto, rollers upon which said strip operates, a drive-shaft, drive-wheels mounted on said shaft, independent operating-cables connected to said drive-wheels and strip, a pulley-wheel engaged by said cables, and a friction-roller upon which said cables operate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EMIL LUNDGREN.

\Vitnesses':

WYLIE MCCASLIN, S. JAMES CALLAHAN. 

